Means for detecting submarines and other invisible objects



Aug. 4, 1925;

J. H. cum-z MEANS FOR DETECTING SUBMARINES AIiD OTHER INVISIBLE OBJECTS3 Sheets-Sheet I 1 Original Filed Jul 17, 1917 ww wwm 4 4 N INVENTOI?Jb/r/v Cwvrz W/ TNESSES w m his ATTORNEY Aug. 4, 1925. v J. H. CUNTZMEANS FOR DETECTING SUBMARilNES AND OTHER IilHSIBLE OBJECTS OriginalFiled July 17, 1917 s She'ets-Sheets :TOH/Y 3 UQBY INVENTQR fl Can/77' QATTORNEY E Patented Aug. 4, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\ JOHN H. OUNTZ', OF HOBOKEN, 'NEW JERSEY.

MEANS FOR DETECTING SUBMABINES AND OTHER INVISIBLE OBJECTS.

Application filed July 17, 1817, Serial No. 181,014. Renewed June 5,1926.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. Conn, a citizen of the United States, and aresi- ;dent of Hoboken, in the county of Hudson WWW.

and State of New J erse have invented certain new and useful mprovementsin Means for Detecting Submarines'and Other Invisible Objects, of whichthe following is a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention relates to means for detecting the presence of submarinevessels, "submarine mines and other floating or sub- ,,merged.- bodies,or bodies on the bottom of the sea, or otherwise.

More particularly my invention relates to electric circuits and otherapparatus carried on a vessel or float, by means of which the presenceof magnetic or metallic bodies can be detected at a distance, althoughmy method may station.

In one form of my invention I dispose electric circuits around theoutside of a also be employed at a fixed vessel, so as to enclose alarge area, and

to include the hull of the vessel inside the circuit. I may use one ormore circuits, each having one or more turns, one arrangement being tohave three circuits in planes at right angles to each other.

Electric currents may be' sent through these circuits, and indicating ormeasuring instruments are connected to them to show variations incurrent caused by the presence of submarine vessels, mines or otherforeign bodies. I

When a direct current is caused to flow through any of these circuits, amagnetic field is created, and if the vessel is built of iron or steel,the magnetic field is greatly strengthened. This magnetic field spreadsout from the vessel, and while its strength diminishes with increasingdistance from the 'vessel, the large area of the circuit, the strengthof the current flowing therein, which can be made as powerful as de-'sired, and the magnetic material of the yes sel, about which thecircuits are disposed, combine to create a magnetic field of suchstrength that its influence extends to considerable distances. Theelectric circuit and the hull of the vessel constitute a greatelectromagnet. If a foreign magnetic body, such as a submarine boat or amine, enters this field, it will cause a variation thereof, and hencecause changes in the currents in the circuits, which will be indicatedon the detecting instruments. 7

If there is relative motion between the magnetic -field surrounding thevessel and foreign conducting bodies, currents will be induced in thelatter, even if they are not magnetic. These currents will react uponthe original circuits, and'cause changes in the currents therein, whichwill be indicated on the detecting instruments.

\Vhen an alternating current is caused to flow in any of these circuits,an'alternating electro-magnetic. field iscreated in the surroundingregion, and if there are any conducting bodies in this region, electriccurrents will be induced in these bodies. These induced currents willreact upon the original circuit, causing changes in the original currentwhich will be indicated on suitable detecting instruments. Such foreignconducting bodies may be submarine vessels' or mines, which will betraytheir presence by the changes in current caused in the detectingcircuits on board the original vessel.

When the foreign body is of magnetic material it will cause changes inthe alternating electro-magnetic field and hence in the currents in. theoriginal circuits, which changes will be indicated on the detectinginstruments.

Even when, under normal conditions, there is no current in the detectingcircuits on board the original vessel, the relative motion of thisvessel and a foreign magnetic body, such as a submarine vessel orrection of the foreign body-can be determined.

Although these circuits are constructed and arranged so as not to beespeciallyafto radio frequencies.

fected by radio waves, yet such waves may cause disturbances, and so thecircuits should be designed so as not to respond The wires comprisingthese circuits are arranged on the outside of the hull of the vessel,and are secured and protected against injury from the sea waves andother causes.

The detecting instruments may be of any suitable kind, including thoseof the audion type, with any suitable -auxiliary circuits. Any suitableamplifying arrangements may be employed.

Suitable means are employed to counter act or compensate for thedisturbing magnetic or electromagnetic eliects of moving parts ormachinery of the vessel carrying the detectingcircuits. Suitable meansare also used to compensate for the efi'ect of the earths magnetic fieldon the detecting circuits.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 represents a vessel, in side elevation, with three electriccircuits disposed about it in three planes at right angles to eachother, two of the circuits passing over masts, with suitable means forgenerating direct currents, and suitable detecting instruments forindicating changes incurrent, shown diagrammatically.

Fig. 2 is a top view of the same vessel and circuits.

,Fig. 3 is an end V ew of the same vessel and circuits.

Fig. 3 is a top sectional view of a portion of the hull of a vessel andattached parts showing a means for protecting and securing electricwires on the outside of the hull.

Fig. 3 is a front View and Fig. 3 a side sectional view of the aboveportion of hull and attached parts.

Fig. 3 is a top sectional view of a portion of the hull of a vessel andattached parts showing a modified means for securing anil protectingwires on the outside of the hu 1.

Fig. 4 shows a vessel, in side elevation, with three electric circuitsdisposed about it in three planes at right angles to each other, allthree circuits arranged close to the hull or 'deck of the vessel, withmeans for generating alternating currents and suitable in dicating ormeasuring instruments, shown diagrammatically.

Fig. 5 is a top view of the same vessel and circuits.

Fig. 6 is a side view of a vessel with two electric circuits disposedabout it, each having a number of turns, and another form of in icatinginstrument shown diagrammatically.

Fig. 7 shows another form of detecting instrument, of the audion type.

Fig. 8 shows diagrammatically a direct ures 10", 10 and 10 are top viewsof the above rudder and magnet in three different positlons.

Fig. llis a side view, partly in section, of a propeller and ofcompensating magnets in a watertight housing or box. Fig. 11" is an endview of the above propeller and magnets.

In Figures 1, 2 and 3, V is a vessel or ship, with masts M, M and M keelK. rudder R and screw propeller P. A watertight housing or box Q,encloses compensating magnets, shown in Figures 11 and 11.

A, A is an insulated electric circuit running horizontally around theoutside of the hull, and having one or more turns, B, B is an insulatedelectric circuit in a plane approximately at right angles to the lengthof the vessel, running over a mast or stay and outside the hull andbetween the keel and the hull or through a hole in the keel. C, C is aninsulated electric circuit in a plane approximately parallel to thelength of the vessel running over the masts and outside the hull. Thiscircuit. is run preferably near, but not out-side the cutwater and keel.All these circuits may have one or more turns. G is a direct currentgenerator which can supply current to circuits A, B and C'through thereversing switches S, S and S respectively. I), D and D are detecting orindicating instruments, in ductively connected to the circuits A, B andC, respectively, through the transformers T, T and T eating instruments,transformers and circuits are shown in diagrammatic form, and thecircuits are distinguished from each other by different kinds of dashesand dots.

In Figures 3, 3 and 3, U is a portion of the hull of a vessel, B 13 areinsulated wires forming part of an electric circuit about the vessel, Lis a covering strip or piece, having a recess, 0, for the wires to fitin, and fastened to the hull by means of the bolts J. L has rounded orbeveled edges, soas to offer little resistance to the water. N

is packing to keep water out of the recess 0.

In Fig. 3 U is a portion of the hull of a vessel, B 13 are insulatedwires forming part of an electric circuit about the vessel, W is agroove in the hull, into which the Ill The generator, switches, indi-Ill W wider and shallower than W, I is a strip '01 piece covering thegrooves IV and W and the hull and near or on the deck.

fastened to the hull U by means of bolts J. I has rounded or bevelededges. y

In Figures 4 and. 5, V is a vessel orship, with keel K,rudder R andscrew propeller P. A watertight box Q, encloses compensating magnets,shown in Figures 11 and 11. A A is an insulated electric circuit runninghorizontally around the outsideof the hull. B B- is an insulatedelectric-cir cuit in aplane approximately at right angles to the lengthof the ship, runningcaround C is an insulated electric circuit, in aplane approximately parallel to the length of the vessel, runningoutside the hull and near or on the deck. All these circuits may haveone'or more turns, and when outside the hull, and especially when'u nderwater, they are placed so as to be as secure as possible and to offer.the least resistance to passage through the, water. H is an alternatingcurrent generator, which can supply current to circuits A B and Cthrough the switches S S and S respectively. D D and D are detecting orindicating instruments, in-

ductively connected to the circuits A" B and C, respectively, throughthe transform ers T T and T The generator, switches, indicatinginstruments, transformers and circuits are shown in diagrammatic form,and the circuits are distinguished from each other by different kinds ofdashes and dots.

In Fig. 6, V is a vessel or ship with keel K rudder R and propeller I. Awatertight box Q encloses compensating magnets, shown in Figures 11 and11*; A A is an insulated electric circuit running horizontally aroundthe outside of the hull, and having a number of turns. B B B is aninsulated .electric circuit running around the hull and over the deckand having a number of turns covering a large part of the length of theship. E is an electric indicating or measuring instrument having twocoils, e and 6, connected, respectively to circuits A and B throughswitches S and S. The indicating instrument, switches and circuits areshown diagrammatically, and the circuits are distinguished from eachother by different kinds of dashes. and dots. The indicating instrumentE can 'be connected with either circuit A or I? or with both, and in thelatter case will act differentially to show the relative strength of thecurrents in either circuit. Under normal conditions there will be nocurrent in either circuit, but

the presence of a foreign body, of magnetic material, in relative motionwith vessel V will cause currents in circuits A and B the relativestrength of these currents depending upon the direction of the foreignbody with respect to circuits A and B In Figure .7, A A are parts ofacircuit running around avessel, as shown in the" preceding figures. ,Tis a transformer, a and c are condensers, the latter'a variable one. Fis an exhausted bulb, is a filament, g is a grid, and p a plate, allinside the bulb. a and b are batteries, 1' is a variable resistance, sis a switch, and t a telephone receiver. The arrangement of elementshere shown constitutes one form of the audion type of detectors, but anyother suitable arrangement of elements and circuits may be employed.

In Fig. 8, Y is a gyroscopic compass; 1

and 2 are light insulated rods attached thereto and carrying electriccontacts 3, 4,

" 5 and 6. Contact 3 is connected by circuit 7 with contact 5, andcontact 4 is connected by circuit 8 with contact 6. 9' is an outercircular contact strip extending over a little less than 180 degrees,and connected with an inner circular contact strip 11.' 10 is an outercircular contact strip ,having the same radius as 9 and also extendingover a little less than 180 degrees, and it is connected with the innercircular contact strip 12 having thesame radius as 11.. 13'and 14 areresistances arranged circularly, or with their contact points arrangedcircularly, and con-.

nected with each other at 15 and 16. 17 18 and 19 are circuitsconnecting the apparatus just described with the compensating coil 21about the galvanometer 20, and the direct current generator 22. Theleads A, A are connected with one of the circuits about a vessel asalready described.

In Fig. 8, 22 is a direct current generator, with 26, the latter beingconnected by belt '27 with pulley 28 on shaft 29, which is the propellershaft of the vessel or is so'connected with the main shaft that itsspeed is proportional to the speed of the vessel.

The object of the apparatus anddevices shown in Figures 8 and 8 is tocompensate for the effects of the earths magnetic field upon thedetecting circuits on the vessel. These effects will depend upon thespeed of the vessel and the course she is steering. Generally speaking,when the vessel is on a magnetic north or south course,-the effect ofthe earths field will be a minimum, and when the vessel is on a magneticeast or westcourse the efi'ect will be a maximum. The;

effects will also increase with the speed of the vessel. The indicatingor measuring instrument 20 is connected with one of the detectingcircuits about the vessel, in which poles 23 and 24, shaft 25 and pulleycircuits currents are induced as the vessel coil 21 being such as tocounteract the efiects positions and 16.

of" the current in the regular coil of due to the earths field.

The compensating current is generated by a dynamo 22, whose speed isproportional to the speed of the vessel, and this current is regulatedby the resistances 13 and 14, which position, and the minimum resistance1s" m,

circuit when said contact points are at the When the vessel is on amagnetic 'north course, the points 3 and4 do not make contact with thecircular contact strips 9, 10, 11, and 12, and the circuit is open. Asthe vessel deviates from a north course the circular contact strips moverelatively to the points 3 and 4 which are under control of the compassY, and contact is made. At the same time the points 5 and'o are at ornear the position of maximum resistance of 13 and 14, and only a smallcurrent flows through the circuit in which the compensating coil 21 isincluded. As the vessel approaches an east or a west course, theresistances 13 and 14 move relatively to the points 5 and 6, and theresistance decreases until it reaches a minimum when the vessel isheaded east or west. In this position themaximum compensating currentflows through the compensating coil21. As the vessel approaches a southcourse, the resistance in creases and the current in the compensatingcoil diminishes until it reachesa minimum when the south courseisreached.

As the direction of the current due to the earths field will bedifferent for easterly and westerly courses, the direction of the compensating current must be correspondingly changed. This is accomplishedby means of the interrupted circular contact strips 9, 10, 11 and 12, asshown, for when the vessel passes from an easterly to a westerly course,or vice versa, the polarity of the contact pieces 3 and 4 changes.

In Figures 9, 9 and 9", 30 is a crank shaft, 31 and 32 are cranks, setat 180 degreesapart, 33 is a piston rod, 34 a piston moving in thecylinder 35, 36 is a rod and 37 a magnet or magnetic body. These figuresare largely diagrammatic and a number of details have been omitted. Themagnet is small in mass compared with the piston, but is equal to it inmagnetic effect upon outside bodies and circuits. The magnet alwaysmoves in a direction opposite to that of the piston,'and socounterbalanccs the magnetic effect of the latter on outside bodies andcircuits.

In Figures 10, 10, 10 and 10, R is a rudder, 38 is a rudder post, 39 isa magnet or magnetic body, 40, 41 42 and are gea'ring and gear wheelswhich move the rudder and the magnet in such a way that when the rudderturns in one direction, the magnet turns in the other direction. The manet is small in mass compared with the ru der, but equal to it inmagnetic effect upon outside bodies and circuits, and as it moves in theopposite direction to the rudder, it will counterbalance, or com ensatefor, its magnetic effect on outside dies and circults.

In Figures 11 and 11, P is a screw propeller, 49, 49, 49, 49 are magnetsor magnetic bodies, 44 is a propeller shaft and 45 is a sleeve carryingthe magnets 49 and turning in an opposite direction to the propellershaft, and actuated by gearing, or other suitable means, not shown. Q isa watertight box or housing enclosing the magnets, and attached to thehull of the vessel, 48, by bolts 47. Watertight packing is shown at 46.The magnets are small in mass compared with the propeller blades, butequal to them in magnetic effect upon outside bodies or circuits, and asthey turn in a direction "opposite to that of the propeller, they willcounterbalance its magnetic effect upon other bodies or circuits.

Other moving parts may be similarly counterbalanced magnetically.

The vessels on which I dis ose my circuits are preferably composelargely of magnetic material, but they may be of other material. Directcurrent, or alternating current can be used with any of the arrangementsof circuits shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, or withany othersuitable arrangement of circuits or said circuits may have no currentflo'wing in them under normal conditions, and any of the detectinginstruments shown, or any other suitable ones, can be used in connectionwith any of my circuits. These instruments may be directly connectedwith the circuits, or may be connected with them through transformers orthrough condensers, as may be most suitable for any given conditions.

In generahthe figures are diagrammatic and show the objects described inconventional forms, and I do not confine myself to the exactconstructions and arrangements here shown, but may employ any suitablevessel, a plurality of'electric circuits in different planes disposedaround theoutside of said vessel, and indicating instruments associatedwith said circuits.

3. Means for detecting the presence of magnetic bodies at a distance,comprising a vessel, electric circuits. substantially surrounding saidvessel, indicating instruments associated with said circuits, and meansfor compensating the effect-upon said circuits of moving magnetic bodieson board said vessel. I

4. Means for. detecting the presence of magnetic bodies at a distance,comprising a vessel, electric circuits disposed around said vessel,detecting instruments associated with said circuits, and means forcompensating the efi'ect of the earths. magnetic field "on saidcircuits. I a r 5. Means 'for detecting the presence of magnetic bodies"at a distance, comprising a ship having a hull composed largely ofmagnetic material, electric circuits disposed about said ship, means forcausing current to flow through saidcircuits, and means for detectingvariation in the current in said cir cuits;

6. Means for detecting submerged magnetic bodies, comprising a detectingvessel, a magnetizingcoil surrounding said vessel, means for passingcurrent through said coil, a detecting coil surrounding said, essel, andan electric indicator connected to said detecting coil. i

7. A method of detecting the presence of magnetic bodies at a distance,which consists in causing relative motion between said bodies and avessel carrying large electric circuits said vessel having a hullcomposed largely of magnetic material, in causing cur rents to fiowthrough said circuits, and in indicating changes in said currents ondetecting instruments.

8. A method of detecting the presence of metallic bodies at a distance,which consists in causing relative motion between said bodies and avessel carrying large electric circuits said vessel having a hullcomposed largely of magnetic material, in causing currents to flowthrough said circuits, in cansing variations in said currents by therelative motion between said bodies and said vessel, and inindicatingchanges in said currents on detecting instruments.

9. A method of detecting the presence of magnetic bodies at a distance,which consists incausing relative motion between said bodies and avessel carrying large electric circuits, in causing currents to flowthrough .said circuits in indicating changes in said currents ondetecting instruments, and in counterbalancing the effect of localmagnetic disturbances.

sists in-causing relative motion between said bodies and a vesselcarrying large electric 'circuits, in causing currents to flowv throughsaid circuits in indicating changes in said currents on detectinginstruments, and in counterbalancing the eifect of local magneticdisturbances.

11. A method of detecting the presence of magnetic bodies at a distance,which consists in causing relative motion between said .bodies and avessel carrying large electric circuits, in causing currents to flowthrough said circuits, in indicating changes in said currents ondetecting instruments, and in compensating for the effect of the earthsmagnetic field. e

12. A method of detecting the. presence of metallic bodies at adistance, which consists in causing relative motion between said bodiesand a vessel carrying large electric circuits, in causing currentstoflow through said circuits, in indicating changes in said currents ondetecting instruments, and. in compensatin for the efi'e'ct of theearths magnetic fie d.

of the earths magnetic field on circuits on board a. vessel, comprisingan indicating instrument connected with said circuits, a compensatingcoil on said indicating instrument, a compass, a resistance controlledby said compass and in circuit with 'said compensating coil, and anelectric generator in circuit with said resistance and said compensatingcoil, and driven at a speed proportional to the speed of. the vessel.

16. Means for counteracting the effect of the earths magnetic field on acurrent indicating instrument associated with circuits on board avessel, comprising a compensating coil associated with said instrument,a source of electric current which generates current of a strengthproportional to the speed of the vessel, and means for modifying thecurrent in accordance with the course of the vessel.

17. The method of detecting submerged magnetic bodies, which consists insurrounding a vessel of magnetic material with a magnetizing coil and adetecting coil,

10 crate a current in the detecting coil, and

observing the variation in intensity of the indications produced by saidcurrent.

,In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing Witnesses, this 13th day of 15 July,1917.

JOHN H. CUNTZ.

Witnesses:

HERMAN F. CUNTz, WILLIAM B. WALDO.

